Last Call: Book Discussion of “The Cross and the Lynching Tree” followed by Pilgrimage to Montgomery

The cross and the lynching tree are the two most emotionally charged symbols in the history of the African American community. In this powerful new work, theologian James H. Cone explores these symbols and their interconnection in the history and souls of black folk. The discussion will be led by Canon Cathy Zappa and the Rev. Dr. Thee Smith.

Cathedral Pilgrimage to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and The Legacy Museum in Montgomery, AL

The Cathedral will be chartering a bus to Montgomery, and our first stop in the morning will be the Memorial for Peace and Justice(which is outdoors). More than 4400 African American men, women, and children were hanged, burned alive, shot, drowned, and beaten to death by white mobs between 1877 and 1950. Millions more fled the South as refugees from racial terrorism, profoundly impacting the entire nation. Until now, there has been no national memorial acknowledging the victims of racial terror lynchings. On a six-acre site atop a rise overlooking Montgomery, the national lynching memorial is a sacred space for truth-telling and reflection about racial terror in America and its legacy.

We’ll have lunch and a tour at St. John’s Episcopal Church, then the bus will take us to the Legacy Museum. Located on the site of a former warehouse where black people were enslaved in Montgomery, Alabama, this narrative museum uses interactive media, sculpture, videography and exhibits to immerse visitors in the sights and sounds of the domestic slave trade, racial terrorism, the Jim Crow South, and the world’s largest prison system. Compelling visuals and data-rich exhibits provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to investigate America’s history of racial injustice and its legacy — to draw dynamic connections across generations of Americans impacted by the tragic history of racial inequality.

Cathedral clergy and staff will lead the pilgrimage, including liturgies and discussion, to help you process this powerful day.

It will also be a very long day, and will probably not be enjoyable for children. However, it’s a great opportunity for parents to learn more in order to plan a visit later with their children. And, Saturday, October 19 Cathedral Youth and parents, grandparents, and teachers will make the pilgrimage. Watch the Cathedral Youth News for more information!